German second tier cable networks Tele Columbus and Primacom have finally managed to merge after almost 8 years of looking to do so. It would be just like the Germany cartel office to interfere, the Bundeskartellamt, but failing that Germany will have a third viable cable network, partly in East Germany and partly in better off Western regions. There was a time when Faultline talked openly of the two companies as if they were the same, being both controlled by Orion cable, but shareholder disputes over valuation for a tiny minority of shareholders dogged final merger, and Orion cable went on to rename itself as Tele Columbus and sold its shareholding in Primacom. This new deal will create a company…